Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard is a calm, sweet, and patient giant, famously careful with children and a good-natured companion with striking good looks. Despite their size, they are placid and do not take up as much space in a home as a smaller but more active dog.

Temperament

The Saint Bernard is a calm, sweet, and good-natured companion. AKC describes the breed as famously watchful, patient, and careful with children. In the home, the Saint does not take up as much room as a much smaller but more active dog, making the breed a steady presence rather than a restless one. They are cautious with strangers at first but settle in once they trust the household. A trained adult Saint Bernard is fine being home alone.

The breed can be stubborn during training, and early socialization is very important. Once the dog understands what you want, he will follow willingly, slowly perhaps but contentedly. The ideal owner is easygoing and confident, using firm, positive training. A full-time schedule suits the breed best. Moderate daily exercise, such as walking or play, is sufficient. The Saint is fine with children, particularly if raised with them, and is willing to pull carts or sleds, occasionally filled with squealing youngsters.

“Saints are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children.”

AKC

Daily needs and attention

A Saint Bernard is a calm, sweet companion who does not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog. Daily exercise is moderate: the breed needs to walk or play every day. A fenced yard or access to one is recommended. Grooming involves brushing a few times a week; the smooth variety can be brushed quickly, while the longhaired coat takes a bit more time. With a dog this size, grooming will take more than five minutes. Drool is a regular part of daily life. Training works best with a firm, positive, confident approach, and early socialization is very important. The breed can be stubborn, so consistency matters. A Saint Bernard is fine being home alone as a trained adult, and the ideal schedule is full-time but no overtime. The breed is cautious with strangers at first but settles in well once they know you. With children, the breed is famously watchful, patient, and careful, and does well raised with older kids.

“Saints are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children.”

AKC

Health and lifespan

Saint Bernards typically live 8 to 10 years, with VCA Animal Hospitals listing a range of 7 to 9 years. As a giant breed standing 25 to 34 inches and weighing 120 to 180 pounds, the breed's size brings specific health considerations. Hip dysplasia is a real challenge at this size, so prospective adopters should look for parents free of the condition. Bloat is a risk owners should always be aware of, and eye problems can occur, including sagging eyelids that may catch debris and cause pain.

For a working household, the Saint Bernard's moderate activity level is a practical fit. The breed needs to walk or play every day but does not take up as much room as a much smaller but more active dog. Grooming is straightforward: the smooth variety brushes quickly, while the longhaired variety takes a bit more time. Early socialization is very important, and training should be firm, positive, and confident. The breed is calm and sweet, cautious at first with strangers but comfortable once they know you.

“Look for parents who are free of hip dysplasia (a real challenge with a dog this size), bloat and eye problems.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Habits and behavior

A Saint Bernard is a calm, placid companion that does not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog. The breed is famously watchful, patient, and careful with children, and is cautious with strangers at first but okay with them once you are. In training, these dogs grow quickly, reaching adult height while they still have a puppy brain. Once the pup understands what you want, he will follow you willingly, slowly perhaps but contentedly. Early socialization is very important, and the breed can be stubborn, so a firm, positive, and confident training style works best. A Saint Bernard is fine as a trained adult left home alone, and is fine with kids if raised with them. The ideal household offers a full-time schedule without overtime, an easygoing and casual personal style, and a fenced yard or access to one. Moderate daily exercise is needed. Drool is a consistent part of daily life with this breed.

“Calm and placid, the Saint does not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate

The Saint Bernard is a giant breed, standing 25 to 34 inches tall and weighing 120 to 180 pounds. Despite that size, the breed is calm and placid, and does not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog. The recommended home includes a fenced yard or access to one. The breed is fine being home alone as a trained adult, which suits a working schedule. Drooping jowls mean drool is part of living with a Saint. The smooth variety can be brushed quickly, while the longhaired variety takes a bit more time. Early socialization is very important. The ideal owner is easygoing and casual in personal style, confident, and firm and positive in training.

“Calm and placid, the Saint does not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Challenges

A Saint Bernard is a calm, sweet companion, but the breed's size and temperament shape the day-to-day realities of ownership. At 120 to 180 pounds, this giant dog needs a fenced yard or access to one, and a household with older children. The schedule is full-time, with no overtime, and experience is definitely preferred.

Drool is a constant; drooping jowls mean it is part of living with a Saint. Grooming is straightforward, but with a dog this size, brushing a few times a week takes more than five minutes. Training calls for a firm, positive, confident approach, and early socialization is very important. These dogs can be stubborn, and they grow quickly, reaching adult height while still having a puppy brain.

Health-wise, owners should be aware of the chance for bloat, and look for parents free of hip dysplasia and eye problems. Eyelids might sag, catching debris, which is painful to the dog. A Saint Bernard is fine as a trained adult left home alone, and cautious with strangers at first but settles in if you are comfortable around them.

“Look for parents who are free of hip dysplasia (a real challenge with a dog this size), bloat and eye problems.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

The fun part

A Saint Bernard brings a particular kind of quiet joy to a home. These dogs are calm and placid, and they do not take up as much room in a house or apartment as a much smaller but more active dog. They are good-natured companions with striking good looks, and their great big heads give them a majestic appearance. They are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children. A Saint Bernard is willing to pull carts or sleds, occasionally filled with squealing youngsters. Once the pup understands what you want, he will follow you willingly, slowly perhaps but contentedly. The smooth variety can be brushed quickly with a slick and a promise. As a trained adult, a Saint Bernard is fine being home alone, which suits a working household. They are cautious at first with strangers but okay with them if you are.

“They're willing to pull carts or sleds, occasionally filled with squealing youngsters.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Living with kids, cats and other dogs

Saint Bernards are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children. The breed is described as calm, placid, and good-natured, and VCA notes the dog is fine with kids if raised with them. Given the breed's size (120 to 180 pounds), VCA recommends older children. The Saint is willing to pull carts or sleds, occasionally filled with squealing youngsters, reflecting a natural ease around active children.

The provided sources do not include specific guidance on how Saint Bernards interact with cats or other dogs. The breed's general temperament is described as calm and sweet. Prospective adopters should confirm the individual dog's history with other animals before finalizing an adoption.

“Saints are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children.”

AKC

What to ask the rescue

Before finalizing an adoption, start by asking about the dog's temperament and daily routine. The Saint Bernard is calm and sweet, and a trained adult is fine being home alone, so confirm the dog's comfort level in that setting. Ask whether the dog has been raised with children, since the breed is famously patient and careful with kids and does best when raised alongside them. Inquire about socialization history, since early socialization is very important for this breed and the dog may be cautious around strangers at first. Confirm whether the dog is the smooth or longhaired variety, since grooming time differs. Ask about the exercise routine and whether the dog has been walked or played with daily. Discuss the dog's training level and whether it responds to firm, positive guidance. Finally, ask about health screening, specifically whether the parents were tested for hip dysplasia, bloat, and eye problems, and whether the dog has shown any eyelid irritation.

“Saints are famously watchful, patient, and careful with children.”

AKC

Sources

• American Kennel Club
• VCA Animal Hospitals